History of AIP … how it all began

Origin. Mission. Goals.

The mission of the Western Arts Alliance (WAA) is to support and serve an educated and engaged field of artists, agents, managers, and presenters to promote and present the performing arts throughout the western states and provinces. WAA's 2015 strategic plan included a key component to "nurture a more inclusive and equitable community rooted in the shared values of openness and generosity," under which a major goal was to "deepen support for Indigenous performing artists and touring networks."

In 2015, WAA created an international steering committee of 15 Indigenous performing arts professionals to set the protocols, structure, and content for an Indigenous Performance Symposium before WAA's annual conference in Vancouver, British Columbia. Committee members represented Indigenous arts professionals from Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The 2015 convening made it clear that US funders, presenters, and arts practitioners were not supporting or engaging Indigenous artists at nearly the same levels as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

WAA established the Advancing Indigenous Performance (AIP) program in 2018 to provide financial support, professional development, showcasing, and networking opportunities for Indigenous artists and arts presenting professionals to help build audiences for Indigenous performing arts. WAA has uplifted awareness that all members of its organization stand on Indigenous land. Still, Indigenous artists remain seriously underrepresented in arts presenting and touring programs. Please note: we use the word "Indigenous" to include Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Native American artists residing in the United States.

From its inception, AIP has worked closely with the Regional Arts Organizations (RAOs) to expand support for Indigenous work through their touring grants programs. As a participant of the RAO Working Group, AIP identified strategies to increase geographic parity for presenting and touring opportunities across the country, resulting in the Touring Fund. The project has also engaged with the Native Arts and Culture Foundation (NACF), First People's Fund (FPF), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA), The Kennedy Center, and other leading arts organizations to plan expanded education, resources, and opportunities for Indigenous artists across disciplines and communities. The AIP program is guided by a national Steering Committee with broad representation of professionals engaged in advancing Native American arts and cultures. 

Expected outcomes and benefits
Thanks to the generous support of the Mellon Foundation, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the NEA, RAOs, and others, AIP has worked for over six years: 1) to break down economic, cultural, and systemic barriers to the participation of Indigenous performing artists in the arts presenting and touring field; and, as a result, 2) build knowledge and change perceptions about Indigenous peoples in communities nationwide.

Above: Aotearoa Maori delegation at 2015 Indigenous Performance Symposium. Below: Tsimshian delegation taking part in Symposium opening protocols to welcome foreign delegations to Turtle Island.

In 2018, AIP was awarded the first of two, three-year awards from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, as well as one-year grants from The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (then Trust) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

AIP Programs, like the Native Launchpad and the Touring Fund, were on their way!

Program Developers and Consultants

Tim Wilson Andre Bouchard Larissa FastHorse Ty Defoe Scott Stoner